Lemont Freshman Earns 4th Place At 2021 Journalism State Finals

LEMONT, IL — Making her state finals debut, Lemont High School freshman Avary Blazevich placed fourth in the Info Graphics category at the 2021 IHSA Journalism State Finals, which were contested virtually this spring, the school said in a release. Seniors Nicholas Karmia and Anne Mueggenborg also made their state finals debuts, in Video News and Editorial Cartooning, respectively.

According to the school, each student placed among the top three in their respective categories in sectional competition to earn their state finals berths. Blazevich was the sectional runner-up in her competition, while Karmia and Mueggenborg both finished third.

This marks the 11th straight season, not including 2020, when the IHSA State Series was cancelled, that Lemont has advanced multiple students to the state finals, the school said.

Lemont’s journalism advisor is Susan Szafranski, and its head Yearbook sponsor is Cara Forde.

The IHSA Journalism State Finals includes contests in 18 newspaper and yearbook related categories, with students being asked to meet a different challenge in each competition. The top three finishers in each category from each IHSA Sectional advance to compete at the IHSA State Finals, the school said.

Lemont has advanced qualifiers to the IHSA Journalism State Finals 12 consecutive years (not including 2020), and tallied a school-record seven qualifiers in 2014, the school said.